Deactivation mechanism of MFI-type zeolites by coke formation during n-hexane cracking

Diffusivity and adsorption properties of n-hexane within coked MFI-type zeolites, the micropore volume, and number of acid sites were measured to investigate the deactivation mechanism of MFI-type zeolite during n-hexane cracking. The coked MFI-type zeolite was prepared by n-hexane cracking over the zeolite at 923 K. The diffusivity and adsorption isotherm of n-hexane within the coked zeolite was obtained using the constant volume method. Micropore volume and acid sites number of the coked zeolite decreased with increasing coke loading, resulting in a decrease in n-hexane adsorption on the coked zeolite. In contrast, intracrystalline diffusivity of n-hexane within the coked zeolite increased with coke loading, and effective diffusivity remained constant regardless of coke loading. Coke formation on the acid site inside the zeolite pores caused a decrease in n-hexane adsorption onto the acid site, resulting in geometrical limitations that promoted the major mass transfer resistance. Effect of diffusivity on MFI-type zeolite deactivation during n-hexane cracking was small. The main cause of the deactivation was considered to be a decrease in reaction rate due to the decrease in the number of acid sites for n-hexane cracking by coke formation. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.